When Kids are Bullied, What Can Parents Do?
It’s no mystery that being bullied hurts. Whatever form the abuse takes—whether it’s being tripped, teased, excluded, mocked, insulted, gossiped about, or ridiculed, in-person or via social media—the target suffers. Beyond the short-term pain, such mistreatment can have lasting mental and physical health effects as well, reports the American Academy of Pediatrics. Parents also struggle. […]
Parenting Today Alone
Problems of Parenting Alone Many of the problems that single parents have are the same as those for two-parent families. But these problems may seem more difficult to bear or manage when the parent is alone. For example, all children feel some hostility toward their parents as they try to be independent. But when the […]
Ten Tips for Shopping with Children
1. Remember that children have limits. If you are shopping with children, be alert to their needs: are they tired, hungry, overexcited by the noise and confusion, or simply in need of fresh air and exercise, or a reassuring hug? 2. Remember that children are naturally curious. Children are naturally curious; this is how they […]
6 Strategies for Engaging Boys in the Classroom
Engaging male students is a matter of concern for many educators, judging by professional development books and conference sessions we see, as well as conversations with other teachers. Historically, boys have been out-performed in the K-12 classroom by girls, though they have performed somewhat evenly on national standardized tests such as the ACT and SAT. […]
Kitchen Math- Baking Brownies
It’s no surprise when kids groan at the mention of math homework. From the most mundane to the most ingenious, the little ones are able to come up with any number of excuses to escape a math test or pop quiz. (Tummy ache, again? Let’s get original!) But when math is seamlessly integrated into fun […]
Short Film ‘Just Breathe’ Helps Kids Deal with Emotions
We all live, first and foremost, on the inside of our human bodies. But that doesn’t mean that rich inner life we all have doesn’t project itself outward into the everyday world. Quite the opposite: our emotional responses are hard to navigate at any age. Figuring out how and what you are physically feeling is […]
What’s Wrong with Strict Parenting?
Research shows that most people think strict parenting produces better-behaved kids. However, research studies on discipline consistently show that strict, or authoritarian, child-raising actually produces kids with lower self esteem who behave worse than other kids — and therefore get punished more! Strict parenting actually creates behavior problems in children. Why? 1. Strict parenting deprives […]
24 Science Experiments Your Kids Will Love
1. Make crystal geodes out of alum powder, eggshells, and glue. I would put this on my coffee table. Get the full directions here. 2. Teach kids about the plant xylem with this dyed flower experiment. Bonus: you’ll have pretty, strange-colored flowers. 3. You’ll be just as fascinated by the bouncy, transparent eggsperiment. Get the […]
Co-Parenting Tips for Divorced Parents: Making Joint Custody Work After a Separation or Divorce
Co-parenting amicably with your ex can give your children stability and close relationships with both parents—but it’s rarely easy. Putting aside relationship issues to co-parent agreeably can be fraught with stress. Despite the many challenges, though, it is possible to develop a cordial working relationship with your ex for the sake of your children. With […]
9 Tips to Find a Fulfilling Work-Life Balance
Recently, I had the pleasure of interviewing several amazing women on how they juggle all the responsibilities that come with their professional and personal lives. (Stay tuned for the article in our mental health library!) In addition to sharing what works for them, they provided a slew of solutions for readers, too. Here’s what they […]
10 Ways to Get Your Child To Put Their Cell Phone Down
Has your child’s cell phone become an extension of her hand? Between talking, texting, tweeting, taking pictures, sending emails, and playing games, kids have access to an endless amount of entertainment with their cell phones. This can get exceedingly frustrating for parents who rarely see more than the top of their children’s heads. Concerned parents […]
Understanding the Dynamics of Abusive Relationships
Abusive relationships are fairly simple. They are driven by insecurity, fear that feeds that insecurity and an expectation of inconsistency, both real and perceived. An abuser is morbidly insecure. S/he (yes, potentially, she) has little sense of his/her own social value and makes an effort to gain or re-gain some semblance of that value through […]